Strip handling apparatus



Aug. 28, 1956 E. 'r. LORlG STRIP HANDLING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Dec. 14, 1950 INVENTOR. EDwmT. Lowe 28, 1956 E. T. LORIG 2,760,544

STRIP HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 14, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.E-owm'l. Loans BY A United States Patent STRIP HANDLING APPARATUS EdwinT. Lorig, Ross Township, assiguor to United States Steel tion of NewJersey Allegheny County, Pa., Corporation, a corpora- This inventionrelates to strip handling apparatus and more particularly to apparatusfor coiling and uncoiling steel strip. Strip in coiled form is sometimessupported in a cradle formed by rolls and fed to processing apparatus bypulling it from the cradle rolls. There is a tendency for the coil tomove axially as the strip is unwound. In order to prevent this movementside guides are necessary. These guides are expensive and cause damageto the edges of the strip. It has also been attempted to coil the stripin such a cradle, but such coiling has not been satisfactory because ofthe necessity of bending the strip and keeping the edges thereofsubstantially perpendicular to the axis of the coil.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide an uncoiler of thecradle type in which the coil is maintained in centered position on thecradle rolls.

Another object is to provide a coiling apparatus of the cradle type inwhich the strip is automatically bent into coil form with the edgesthereof being maintained substantially perpendicular to the axis of thecoil.

A further object is to provide apparatus for bending a strip whilemaintaining the edges thereof in a constant plane.

These and other objects will be more apparent after referring to thefollowing specification and attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic end elevation of a coil of strip mounted oncradle rolls;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view, partly in section, taken on the line IIIIof Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the cradle rolls inconjunction with bending rolls for forming strip into a coil; and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figures 1 and 3, but showing the coilmounted on different types of cradle rolls.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, thereference numerals 2.. and 4 show cradle rolls for supporting a coil Cof strip S which is to be unwound. The rolls 2 and 4 are self-centeringrolls of the general type disclosed in my copending application, SerialNo. 97,218, filed June 4, 1949, now Patent No. 2,593,157, dated April15, 1952. A deflector roll 6 is mounted above rolls 2 and 4 to one sidethereof. An idler restraining roll 8 is mounted below the roll 6. Asshown in Figure 2, each of the rolls 2 and 4 consists of a pair ofopposed frusto-conical rolls 10 which are arranged at an angle to oneanother with their axes of rotation intersecting at a point A betweenthe rolls. The axes of the frusto-conical rolls 10 in each of the cradlerolls 4 are also arranged to diverge away from the direction of stripapproach to the roll. In Figure 1 this movement is from the left asindicated by the arrow so that the rolls 2 and 4 have the centers oftheir small ends to the right of a plane extending through the centersof the large ends of the rolls and the line of contact of the coil C onthe respective rolls. The large diameter ends of the rolls 10 face eachother and are provided with substantially hemispherical openings 12therein. A spherical ball 14 is provided in the openings 12 to assist inmaintaining the rolls 10 on center and in alignment while the rolls arebeing rotated. The ball is not necessary if the rolls 10 are madesufiiciently rigid to maintain them in alignment. Lubricating grooves 16are provided in the bottom of the hemispherical openings 12. In order todrive the rolls in synchronism bevelled gear teeth 18 are provided inthe large diameter ends of the rolls 10. The outer ends of rolls 2 and 4are rigidly supported in any suitable manner such as disclosed in myabove identified patent.

In operation, the strip S is drawn from the coil C over the deflectorroll 6. The rolls 2 and 4 will keep the coil C in centered position asit is unwound so that side guides are not necessary. As the coil Cbecomes expended it will drop deeper into the cradle formed by the rolls2 and 4 but at no time will the coil drop to a point where the axes ofthe frusto-conical rolls 10 of each of the cradle rolls 4 will notdiverge away from the direction of strip approach to the rolls. Thepoint of contact of the coil C on cradle roll 2 will get further andfurther to the left as the coil becomes smaller. When the coil C isalmost completely depleted it will sometimes pull out of the cradle andin these instances it is restrained from tending to Wrap around the roll6 by means of the restraining roll 8.

Figure 3 shows the cradle rolls 2 and 4 used in conjunction withstraightening rolls 20, 22 and 24 to act as a coiler. The strip is fedto the straightening rolls 20, 22 and 24 by means of pinch rolls 26. Inthis embodiment the cradle rolls 2 and 4 are arranged in the same manneras Figure 1. The straightening rolls 20, 22 and 24 are arranged beneathand adjacent the cradle roll 2 with the roll 22 being arranged todeflect the strip S downwardly from its path of travel between the rolls20 and 24. The rolls 20, 22 and 24 are of the same type as rolls 2 and4. The axes of the frusto-conical rolls making up the rolls 20, 22 and24 are arranged to diverge away from the direction of strip approach tothe respective rolls. The outer ends of rolls 20, 22 and 24 are rigidlysupported in any suitable manner such as disclosed in my aboveidentified patent. As the strip passes between the rolls 20, 22 and 24it is bent in a generally circular pattern as shown by broken lines inFigure 3. By using the automatic centering rolls 20, 22 and 24 to bendthe strip, the edges of the bent strip remain in the same plane as theedge of the strip before bending. As the coil builds up the edges of thestrip therein will remain in a plane substantially perpendicular to theaxis of the coil formed.

Figure 4 shows a different arrangement of cradle rolls. which may beused in place of the cradle rolls. 2 and 4. in the embodiments of eitherFigures 1 or 3. In this embodiment an automatic centering roll 28 of thetype disclosed in my copending applications, Serial No. 138,389, filedJanuary 13, 1950, now Patent No. 2,592,581, dated April 15, 1952, andSerial No. 145,648, filed February 23, 1950, now Patent No. 2,593,158,dated April 15, 1952, is substituted for roll 2 and a crown roll 30 issubstituted for the roll 4. The axes of the rolls 23 and 30 are arrangedparallel to each other and to the axis of the coil C supported on thecradle rolls. This apparatus will function in the same manner as that ofFigures 1 to 3.

While several embodiments of my invention have been shown and describedit will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for supporting a coil of strip comprising two spaced apartrolls forming a cradle for supporting said coil, at least one of saidrolls being an automatic centering roll having a relatively straightouter strip supporting surface in contact with the coil of strip, saidautomatic centering roll including a pair of opposed frustoconicalrotatable roll sections having their large diameter ends adjacent eachother with their axes of rotation intersecting at a point between theroll sections and diverging upwardly toward the coil and away from thedirection of strip approach to the roll, means for causing the rollsections to rotate in synchronisrn, and means for rigidly supporting theouter ends of said roll.

2. Apparatus for supporting a coil of strip to be uncoiled comprisingtwo spaced apart automatic self-centering rolls forming a cradle forsupporting said coil, each of said self-centering rolls having arelatively straight outer strip supporting surface in contact with thecoil of strip, each of said automatic centering rolls including a pairof opposed fIllSlO-COHlCBll rotatable roll sections having their largediameter ends adjacent each other with their axes of rotationintersecting at a point between the roll sections and diverging upwardlytoward the coil and away from the direction of strip approach to theroll, means for causing the roll sections in each roll to rotate insynchronism, and means for rigidly supporting the outer ends of saidrolls.

3. Apparatus for forming strip into a coil comprising two spaced apartrolls forming a cradle for supporting said coil, at least one of saidrolls being an automatic centering roll having a relatively straightouter strip supporting surface in contact with the coil of strip, saidautomatic centering roll including a pair of opposed frustoconicalrotatable roll sections having their large diameter ends adjacent eachother with their axes of rotation intersecting at a point between theroll sections and diverging upwardly toward the coil and away from thedirection of strip approach to the roll, means for causing the rollsections to rotate in synchronism and means for rigidly supporting theouter ends of said roll, and three automatic centering rolls arranged instaggered relationship adjacent said cradle rolls through which thestrip to be coiled passes, each of said automatic centering rolls havinga relatively straight outer surface in contact with the strip passingtherethrough, each of said last named automatic centering rollsincluding a pair of opposed frusto-conical rotatable roll sectionshaving their large diameter ends adjacent each other with their axes ofrotation intersecting at a point between the roll sections and divergingaway from the direction of strip approach to the roll, means for causingthe roll sections in each roll to rotate in synchronism, and means forrigidly supporting the outer ends of said rolls.

4. Apparatus for forming strip into a coil comprising two spaced apartrolls forming a cradle for supporting said coil, at least one of saidrolls being an automatic centering roll having a relatively straightouter strip supporting surface in contact with the coil of strip, saidautomatic centering roll including a pair of opposed frusto-conicalrotatable roll sections having their large diameter ends adjacent eachother with their axes of rotation intersecting at a point between theroll sections and diverging upwardly toward the coil and away from thedirection of strip approach to the roll, means for causing the rollsections to rotate in synchronism and means for rigidly supporting theouter ends of said roll, and three automatic centering rolls arranged instaggered relationship beneath one of said cradle rolls through whichthe strip to be coiled passes, each of said automatic centering rollshaving a relatively straight outer surface in contact with the strippassing therethrough, each of said last named automatic centering rollsincluding a pair of opposed frusto-conical rotatable roll sectionshaving their large diameter ends adjacent each other with their axes ofrotation intersecting at a point between the roll sections and divergingaway from the direction of strip approach to the roll, means for causingthe roll sections in each roll to rotate in synchronism, and means forrigidly supporting the outer ends of said rolls.

5. Apparatus for bending a strip comprising three automatic centeringrolls arranged in staggered relationship through which the strip passes,said automatic centering rolls having comparatively straight outersurfaces in contact with the strip, each of said automatic centeringrolls including a pair of opposed frusto-conical rotatable roll sectionshaving their large diameter ends adjacent each other with their axes ofrotation intersecting at a point between the roll sections and divergingaway from the direction of strip approach to the roll, means for causingthe roll sections in each roll to rotate in synchronism, and means forrigidly supporting the outer ends of said rolls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 91,252Metzgar June 15, 1869 168,450 Campbell Oct. 5, 1875 672,261 Chase Apr.16, 1901 677,333 Bartholomew July 2, 1901 781,355 Peavey Jan. 31, 1905858,612 Mason July 2, 1907 877,038 Bertsch Jan. 21, 1908 884,314Carpenter Apr. 7, 1908 1,437,915 Sentou et all. Dec. 5, 1922 1,584,499Zachhuber May 11, 1926 1,741,852 Le Rud Dec. 31, 1929 1,795,137 Nye Mar.3, 1931 1,869,545 Crafts Aug. 2, 1932 1,927,849 Roberts Sept. 26, 19332,179,011 Hudson Nov. 7, 1939 2,198,656 Cohn et a1. Apr. 30, 19402,329,832 Fouse Sept. 21, 1943 2,345,373 Ayers Mar. 28, 1944 2,423,407Searles et al. July 1, 1947 2,593,157 Lorig Apr. 15, 1952 2,593,158Lorig Apr. 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 695,873 France Dec. 23, 1930

